Local college students provide mobility for children with cerebral palsy

A group of college students are doing their part to give mobility to children with cerebral palsy.

“It’s a great project,” said Cassandra Bouchard.

Bouchard’s 2-year-old daughter Gracie has cerebral palsy. On Friday, she received a toy car made just for her.

With the push of a button Gracie has mobility at the edge of her fingertips, thanks to the project GoBabyGo.

“It’s hard for her to get around. So I always fear for what she can’t do and helping her get around the house. Right now she can’t really use it in the house, but hopefully in the summertime she’ll be able to get around outside with her brother,” Bouchard said.

GoBabyGo! is a national community outreach program designed to provide assistive riding cars to children who need them.

University of Michigan-Flint physical therapy students, like Kei-Cze Prentis, spent countless hours modifying a trio of toy cars for three kids who will receive them this year.

“It feels really good. It’s a very passionate subject for all of us,” Prentis said.

Prentis said the children’s reactions are priceless.

“Their faces just lit up when they were in the cars and they got to press the button for the first time and they got to go. Just all smiles,” Prentis said.

Meanwhile, organizers of the event said they are proud of their students.

“The physical therapy students and the mechanical engineering students and other people have just done an amazing job,” said Susan Talley, interim director of the physical therapy department at U of M-Flint.

Talley said the toy vehicles will benefit children for years to come.

“When they outgrow them then they’ll come back to the Genesee Intermediate School District and we’ll repurpose it for another child,” Talley said.

As for Bouchard, she would like to thank everyone who helped make Gracie’s newfound mobility possible.

Watch this discussion.Stop watching this discussion.

(0) comments

Welcome to the discussion.

Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language.PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated.Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything.Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person.Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts.Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.